Ribbon cassettes for single element typewriters

ABSTRACT

The invention is a ribbon cassette which rotatably mounts supply and take-up spools and includes vibrator arms which are couplable to ribbon elevating means mounted on a cartridge. The cartridge is removably mounted on a machine and includes ribbon feed means operable by the ribbon elevating means. The cartridges are movable from a load position to enable facile coupling of the cartridge to the elevating and feed means thereon and to an operating position, at which the elevating means in the cartridge is coupled in driving relation to an oscillatable drive means operative incident to each print action.

United States Patent [1 1 Brignole [451 Aug. 1 2, 1975 1 RIBBON CASSETTES FOR SINGLE ELEMENT TYPEWRITERS [75] Inventor: Frederick A. Brignole, Granby,

[21] Appl. No.: 490,860

[52] U.S. Cl. 197/151; 197/162; 197/170 [51] Int. Cl.'- 841.1 33/14 [58] Field of Search 197/151, 162, 170, 154, 1 197/156, 159

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1873.015 2/1959 Gray 197/151 1883929 4/1959 Gray 197/162 3.151.724 10/1964 Ross et al 197/151 3272.304 9/1966 Morelli 197/151 3396828 8/1968 Moshier et a1 197/151 3.513957 5/1970 Ricciardi et a1. 197/151 Anderson et a1. 197/151 3.643.779 2/1972 Anderson et a1. 197/151 3.804.227 4/1974 Cappotto et a1 197/170 X 3,830,351 8/1974 Cappotto 197/151 X Primary Examiner.l. Reed Fisher Assistant E.\'aminerR. T. Rader Attorney, Agent, or Firm.loseph R. Spalla [5 7 ABSTRACT The invention is a ribbon cassette which rotatably mounts supply and take-up spools and includes vibrator arms which are couplable to ribbon elevating means mounted on a cartridge. The cartridge is removably mounted on a machine and includes ribbon feed means operable by the ribbon elevating means. The cartridges are movable from a load position to enable facile coupling of the cartridge to the elevating and feed means thereon and to an operating position, at which the elevating means in the cartridge is coupled in driving relation to an oscillatable drive means operative incident to each print action.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU AUG 1 21975 lllll'lll RIBBON CASSETTES FOR SINGLE ELEMENT TYPEWRITERS i This invention relates to ribbon cassettes for single element typewriters; more particularly, it relatesto ribbon spool containing cassettes having pivotally mounted thereon vibrator arms, and specifically. to ribbon cassettes having vibrator arms, which are easily couplable to ribbon elevating and feed means provided in cassette receiving cartridges.

Ribbon cassettes provided with supply and take-up pled relationship with ribbon elevating and feed mechanisms in a machine.

In accordance with the present invention, a ribbon cassette is provided with vibrator arms pivotally coupled thereto and across which ribbon extends between supply and take-up spools in the cassette. The vibrator arm extremities are formed to be'coupled to ribbon elevating means supported on a cassette receiving cartridge, which also contains ribbon feed mechanism operated by the ribbon elevating meansfThe-cartridge containing the ribbon elevating and feed means is designed to be removably mounted to the machine and a mounted cartridge is pivotal from an open load'position to facilitate coupling of the vibrator arms to the elevating means and the reception of the cassette in the cartridge after which the loaded cartridge is moved to an operating position whereat the elevating meansis connected to drive mechanism in the machine.

An object of the invention isto provide a ribbon cassette having pivotally mounted vibrator arms to facilitate coupling to ribbon elevating means.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a ribbon cassette having pivotally mounted vibrator arms, which is designed for reception into a ribbon cartridge for coupling to ribbon feed mechanism therein.

cordance with the invention as it would appear when loaded in an operatively positioned cartridge;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the cassette as viewed in FIG. I with the top sectionremoved showing details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of amounted ribbon spool; I

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a cassette receiving,

fabric ribbon feeding cartridge shown in an inverted or' open load position, for reception of a fabric ribbon cassette; v 1

FIG. 5 is a side elevational viewof a cassette loaded cartridge mounted on a single element typewriter and shown in inverted load position with the vibrator arms of a cassette being coupled to ribbon elevating. means on the cartridge;

FIG. 6.is a perspective view of a cassette fully loaded in a cartridge in open load position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an operatively positioned cassette loadedcartridge; and

., FIG, 8 is an elevational view of a cassette receiving,

carbonribbon feeding cartridge shown in an inverted or. open load position for reception of a carbon ribbon cassette] y g Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding elements throughout the views' and primed reference numerals designate equivalent elements through the views, there is, shown in FIG. 1, a ribbon cassette generally designated byreference numeral 10 for rotatably accommodating spooled carbon, solvent or fabric ribbon comprising spaced'left and right ribbon spool holders generally designated by reference numerals Hand 12 and vibrator guide arms generally designated by reference numerals l3 and 14 pivoted to the opposite sides of spool holders 1 1, 12.

With reference to FIG; 2, the ribbon cassette 10 comprises a molded lower section generally designated by reference numeral 15 having a flat lower wall 16 taking the form of left and right circular sections 17, 18 spaced apart by an integral T-shaped web section 21, which has an edge 22 parallel to a line 23 through the centers of both circular sections 17, 18 and which web section 21 extends between circular sections l7, 18 substantially to the line 23. Each circular section 17, 18 has acentral opening 24 to accommodate a spindle 64 (FIGS. 3 and 4) about which isa low annular upstanding ring 25. The lower section 15 is also defined by a straight upright rear wall 26 extending along the edge 22, by-upright sections 27 tangent to the circular sections 17, Hand extending from the web section 21 between circular sections 17, 18, by upwardly extending arcuate front sections 28 opposite the rear wall 26, and by upwardly extending side sections 29 which extend from the rear wall 26 around opposite ends of each of the circular sections 17,18 to the line of centers 23 and then outwardly tangentially of the circular sections 17, 18 at right angles to the line 23..

As shown in the FIG. l, the ends 30 of each of the side sections 29 form a downwardly directed clevis 31 adapted to receive and pivotally support the left and right vibrator guide arms 13 and 14 for movement in a single plane.

As viewed in FIGS. land 2, each of the vibrator guide arms 13 and 14 comprises a right angled comer section formed by a front wall 32 and bottom wall 33. Extending rearwardly from the front wall 32 and upwardly from the bottom wall 33 is a blade 34 adapted to bereceived by a clevis 31. The blades 34 are provided with bevelled pins 35 which are adapted to enter holes 36 in each clevis 31 when the blade 34 is forced therein, thus to rotatably support the vibrator guide arms 13 and 14 for movement in the plane of the blades 34. As viewed in FIG, 2, a post 37 located inwardly of each vibrator guide ann blade 34 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 33 of the comer section of the vibrator guide arms 13 and 14 and serves as a ribbon guide. Each post 37 is integrally formed with one end of a ribbon guide rib or section 38 which extends at an .angle on theorder of toward but short of a line 41 extending at right angles to the center line 23 from between the circular sections l7, 18 thereby forming between the ends a ribbon gap 42 across which ribbon 51 extends. The ribbon guide sections 38 of the vibrator guide arms 13, 14 are formed with lower ribbon guide flanges or edges 43. Extending upwardly from the lower ribbon guide flange 43 at the end of the vibrator guide arms 13, 14-ar'e spaced upstanding guides 44 and 45 forming an exit slot 46 through which ribbon 51 extends across the gap. The guides 45 forming the ribbon exit slots 46 extend rearwardly or toward the intermediate web section 21 at right angles to the gap 42 and are provided with notched slots 47 (FIG. 1) adapted to engagingly embrace semi cylindrical coupling pins 92 (FIGS. 4, 5,7 and 8) on ribbon elevating means 91 (FIG. 4.) pivotally mounted on a machine support cartridge 65 (FIG. to be described hereinafter for receiving a cassette 10.

With reference to FIG. 3, ribbon spools 48 are adapted to be rotatably supported between the lower wall 16 of the lower section 15 and an upper closure wall 49 which is secured to the lower section 15 by depending pins (not shown) extending into holes 50 (FIG. 2) provided in the upright rear wall 26 and arcuate wall 28 of the lower section 15 after ribbon 51 on the spools 48 has been threaded.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper closure wall 49 as shown in FIG. 1 has cutouts 52 and 53 for reasons which will be hereinafter apparent. Also, top guide or flanged portions 54 are similarly secured to the top of the guide sections 38 of the vibrator guide arms 13 and 14 after threading ribbon 51.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the cylindrical ribbon spools 48 are each provided with a recess 55 in the lower ends to receive and be rotatably supported about the annular ring 25 on the lower wall 16 and each has a reduced outer diameter upper end 56 receivable within a central opening 57in the upper closure wall 49 to rotatably locate the ribbon spools 48 in spaced relationship in the left and right holders 1] and 12. Ribbon 51 having its ends suitably secured to the spools 48 is wound on the spool 48 in the left holder 11 and extends through an opening 58 between the arcuate front wall 28 and side wall 29, around post 37, and through the guide section 38 of the left vibrator guide arm 13 through the exit slot 46 at the end of the left vibrator guide arm 13, thence across the gap 42 through the slot 46 and ribbon guide section 38 in the right vibrator guide arm 14, around the post 37 and onto the other rotatably supported spool 48. Suitably formed internal ribs 61 in the spools 48 are provided to locate and key the spools 48 to spindles 64 (FlGS. 4 and 5) in ribbon cassette as is conventional.

Spools 48 supported in a fabric ribbon cassette 10 are provided with oppositely located slots 62 to accommodate an L-shaped reversing lever 63 pivotally mounted at the base of fabric ribbon spool 48 supporting spindles 64 and operative when ribbon 51 is unwound from a spool 48 to pivot out and down to cause fabric ribbon 51 reversals as will hereinafter appear.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a cartridge 65 in an inverted load position supporting fabric ribbon feed and ribbon elevating mechanism 73. The fabric ribbon cartridge 65 comprises a feed and elevating mechanism support plate 66 having upwardly directed arms 67 supporting pintles 68 to pivotally secure the cartridge 65 to a machine carriage frame 100 (FIGS. 5 and 7) supported releasable latching means generally designated by reference numeral 69 (FIGS. 5 and 7). A cover 71 (FIGS. 5 and 7) is suitably secured to guard the ribbon feed mechanism and ribbon elevating mechanism 73 when in operative position as shown in FIG. 7. The support plate 66 pivotally supports as at 72 ribbon elevating mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 73 and best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, having a forked arm 74 which when the cartridge is operatively positioned as shown in FIG. 7 couples to cam driven drive mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 75 supported on machine carriage frame 100, which oscillates fabric and carbon drive arms 76, 76 incident to each type action. Another arm 77 of the ribbon elevating mechanism 73 is provided at its bent out end 78 with a slot 79 into which extends an arm 81 of an index plate 82 supporting feed pawls 83 and noback pawls 84. The index plate 82 is pivotally and slidably supported on the support plate 66. The index plate 82 has two stable positions in which the paired feed pawls 83 and no-back pawls 84 are operatively positioned with one or the other of associated feed ratchets 85. As shown, the support plate 66 rotatably supports the feed ratchets 85 from which extend integral spindles 64 on which are pivotally supported the reversing levers 63 which, when ribbon 51 is wound on a spool 48, are held in inactive position out of the path of reversing arms 87 forming part of the index plate 82. When a reversing lever 63 is allowed to drop in the path of the end 88 of a reversing arm 87, continued rotation of spool 48 causes the lever 63 to act on the reversing arm87 and shift the index plate 82 to its other stable position.

The ribbon elevating mechanism 73 also includes ribbon vibrator elevating arms 91, the ends of which are provided with laterally extending semi circular pins 92 adapted to be received with the slots 47 of the vibrator guide arms 13 and I4 on the cassette 10 when the cassette 10 is held in the position as shown in FIG. 5 and drawn upwardly. After coupling the vibrator guide arms 13 and 14 of the cassette 10 to the elevating arms 91, the cassette 10 is pivoted about the pins 92 on the elevating arms 91 for reception of the spindles 64 of the cartridge 65 into the spools 48 to the position shown in FIG. 6 and is held positioned in the cartridge 65 by spring clips 93 upstanding from the support plate 66 which cooperate with detent formations 94 on the outer side walls 29 of the cassette 10. In so loading a cassette 10, the pins 92 on the elevating arms 91 are trapped in the notched slots 47 on the vibrator guide arms 13, 14 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

After so loading a fabric ribbon cassette 10 in the cartridge 65, the entire cartridge 65 is pivoted about a latched pivot connection 68, 180 to the operating position shown in FIG. 7 whereat the ribbon elevating mechanism 73 is automatically coupled to the ribbon drive mechanism 75 on the machine carriage frame generally designated by reference numeral 100 in FIGS, 5 and with the opening defined between the ribbon spanning the gap 42, the spaced elevating arms 91 and the circular sections 17, 18 of the cassette 10 embracing a single element typehead 95 with the ribbon 51 positionable between the typehead 95 and a platen P.

When the loaded cartridge 65 is operatively positioned, a locking lever 96 accommodated by a recess 99 in the upper edge of the rear wall of the cartridge 65 and pivoted on the support plate 66 can be shifted so that the end 97 of the locking lever 96 engages a groove 98 in the upper end of a post 10] extending upwardlyv from the'carriage frame 100. When'the cartridge 65 is so operatively positionedzand locked. the post 101 is accommodated by the semi circular grooves 102 formed in upperclosure wall 49 and lower wall 16 of bottom section (FIGS. 1 and:2=) of thecassette 10, which are shaped to embrace the upstanding sections 27 of the molded lower section 15 and strengthen the cassette 10. v

A carbon and solvent ribbon cartridge 103 shown in FIG. 8 in open load position also has a support plate 66 and attached cover 71. The plate 66' also rotatably supports a pair of spindles 104 one of which, serving as the take up spindle, is integral with an edge serrated disc 105. The support plate 66' also supports a drive roll 106 therebetween but offset from the line between spindle centers. In the carbon-solvent ribbon cartridge 103, the ribbon elevating mechanism 73' is provided with an arm 107 directed toward the drive roll 106 and is adapted to engage an end 108 of aclutch spring 109 positioned in its path. The spring end 108 is trapped between lugs 110 and 110 associated respectively with a single armed lever 111 and one arm 112 ofa lever generally designated 113, both of which are pivotally supported on the drive roll shaft 114. The lever 111 is biased counterclockwise as viewed in the figure by a spring 115, urging the spring end 108 and arm 112 counterclockwise thereby urging the opposite arm 116 of the lever 113 against a boss 117 extending upwardly through a slot 118 in the support plate 66' and guided by the edge 119 of the slot 118. The boss 117 is supported on the end of a link 121 pivotally connected at its opposite end to a take-up spool diameter sensing mechanism generally designated 122.

The clutch spring 109 is wound around the drive roll shaft 114 and when the spring end 108 and connected lever 113 are rocked clockwise by the drive arm 107, the clutch spring wraps and rotates the drive roll shaft 114, thus converting the motion of the arm 107 to rotary indexing movement of the drive roll 106. The indexing movement of the drive roll 106 is transmitted to an intermediate roll 123 which is mounted for rotation on an arm 124 pivotally supported on the drive roll shaft 114 and spring biased to hold the intermediate roll 123 in driving engagement with the drive roll 106 and disc 105 thereby to take up used carbon or solvent ribbon 51. The cutout 52 (P16. 1 in the upper closure wall 49 of the cassette 10 is designed to accommodate the drive and intermediate rolls 106 and 123.

The take-up spool diameter sensing mechanism 122 shown in full diameter position in FIG. 8 to accommodate a solvent or carbon ribbon cassette 103 with new or partially used ribbon 51 comprises connected upper and lower arms 125 and 126 pivoted as at 127 to and embracing the support plate 66' and spring biased toward the take up spindle 104. The upper arm 125 has a sensing pin 128 which extends through the cutout 53 provided in the upper closure wall of the cassette 10 to allow movement of the diameter sensing pin 128, and bears against the coil of ribbon 51 wound on the takeup spool 48. The link 12] is connected to the lower arm 126 of the diameter sensing mechanism and the boss 117 on the end opposite its point of connection and guided by the edge 119 of the slot 118 serves to position the clutch lever 113 to vary the distance between Should it be desired to change a loaded fabric ribbon cartridge 65 for a loaded carbon or solvent ribbon cartridge l03 or vice versa, the locking lever 96 is operated torlease the cartridge for movement about its pintles 68 to open load position and thereafter be removed by releasing the latch mechanism 69.

As shown in FIG. 8, the locking lever 96' associated with a carbon-solvent ribbon cartridge 103 is connected by a link 131 to the arm 126 of the diameter sensingmechanism 122 by a one way pin-and-slot connection 132 provided to move the diameter sensing mechanism 122 to a full diameter position yet allow inward movementof the diameter sensor arms 125 and 126 after the-locking lever 96' is moved from the release position shown to a locking position. Thus, should atyping'application require the use of solvent ribbon instead of a carbon ribbon, the carbon ribbon cassette 6- clutch spring end 108 and the drive arm 107 as ribbon diameter increases thereby to vary the incremental angular indexing of the take-up disc 105.

10is easily removed from cartridge 103 and a solvent ribbon cassette 10 inserted. This interchangeability is permitted without interference by the diameter sensing mechanism 122 which is moved to its radially outward full diameter position when a cartridge is released from its locking post 101 by the locking lever 96. In the open load position of a cartridge 103, after loading a solvent or carbon ribbon cassette 10, the exposed disc may be manually turned to take up any slack in the ribbon 51.

A solvent ribbon control lever generally designated 133, also accommodated by the recessed upper edge of the rear cassette wall 26, is pivotally supported on the support plate 66' and when moved counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 8 acts through an arm 134 thereof to move the boss 117 away from edge 119, as well as the clutch lever 113, and to establish the edge 135 of arm 134 as the control surface for adjustment of the clutch lever 113 in accordance with the diameter of wound ribbon 51. The effect is to reduce the increment of feed to permit print overlap on the solvent ribbon.

Further details of the cartridge latching means 69 and cartridge supported fabric and carbon ribbon feed mechanisms which per se form no part of the invention may be had with reference to copending applications Ser. No. 436,902, by Morelli filed Jan. 28, 1974, and Ser. No. 484,621 by Hengelhaust, filed July 1, 1974.

The invention claimed is:

1. A ribbon cassette comprising a container having upper and lower walls, and discontinuous side walls forming ribbon openings, wound ribbon spools,

means in said upper and lower walls for rotatably supporting said ribbon spools in spaced apart relationship,

vibrator arms,

means pivotally securing said vibrator arms to said side walls,

said vibrator arms extending outwardly from said pivotal securing means and toward one another defining a ribbon gap between said vibrator arms, ribbon extending from one spool to the other spool and across the gap between said vibrator arms, and means on the vibrator arms for coupling said vibrator arms to ribbon elevating means.

2. A ribbon cassette as recited in claim 1, said means for pivotally securing said vibrator arms comprising a clevis formed on each of said side walls, and a blade on each of said vibrator arms receivable within each clevis to limit pivoting motion to the plane of said blades, a

7 hole formed in each clevis and a pin on each of said blades for reception in the hole of each clevis.

3. A ribbon cassette as recited in claim 2, said vibrator arms including a ribbon guide post adjacent said ribbon openings, a ribbon guide section having upper and lower flanges, and spaced ribbon guides extending between said flanges at the end of said ribbon guide sections, one of said spaced ribbon guides having a coupling slot.

4. In combination, a single element typewriter carriage frame, a ribbon cartridge containing and supporting ribbon elevating means and ribbon feed means pivotally detachably coupled to said carriage frame for movement between an operative position and an open load position,

dirve means on said carriage frame. said cartridge supported ribbon elevating means being couplable to said drive means when said cartridge is moved to operative position to be driven thereby and to drive said ribbon feed means, said ribbon feed means including spindles, and said ribbon elevating means including a pair of spaced arms,

a ribbon cassette comprising a pair of spool holders,

spaced vibrator arms pivotally secured to said ribbon cassette and being separated to form a gap,

ribbon spools pivotally supported in said spool holders having ribbon wound thereon and extending from one spool to the other across the gap formed by said spaced vibrator arms, said ribbon spools having means adapted to receive said spindles,

means on said spaced vibrator arms and said pair of spaced arms of said ribbon elevating means for coupling said spaced vibrator arms and said spaced arms of said ribbon elevating means together when said ribbon cartridge is in an open load position, said ribbon cassette thereafter being rotated about said coupling means to engage said spools and spindles,

and means to secure said ribbon cassette to said ribbon cartridge whereby said ribbon cassette loaded ribbon cartridge may be pivoted to operative positron. 

1. A ribbon cassette comprising a container having upper and lower walls, and discontinuous side walls forming ribbon openings, wound ribbon spools, means in said upper and lower walls for rotatably supporting said ribbon spools in spaced apart relationship, vibrator arms, means pivotally securing said vibrator arms to said side walls, said vibrator arms extending outwardly from said pivotal securing means and toward one another defining a ribbon gap between said vibrator arms, ribbon extending from one spool to the other spool and across the gap between said vibrator arms, and means on the vibrator arms for coupling said vibrator arms to ribbon elevating means.
 2. A ribbon cassette as recited in claim 1, said means for pivotally securing said vibrator arms comprising a clevis formed on each of said side walls, and a blade on each of said vibrator arms receivable within each clevis to limit pivoting motion to the plane of said blades, a hole formed in each clevis and a pin on each of said blades for reception in the hole of each clevis.
 3. A ribbon cassette as recited in claim 2, said vibrator arms including a ribbon guide post adjacent said ribbon openings, a ribbon guide section having upper and lower flanges, and spaced ribbon guides extending between said flanges at the end of said ribbon guide sections, one of said spaced ribbon guides having a coupling slot.
 4. In combination, a single element typewriter carriage frame, a ribbon cartridge containing and supporting ribbon elevating means and ribbon feed means pivotally detachably coupled to said carriage frame for movement between an operative position and an open load position, dirve means on said carriage frame, said cartridge supported ribbon elevating means being couplable to said drive means when said cartridge is moved to operative position to be driven thereby and to drive said ribbon feed means, said ribbon feed means including spindles, and said ribbon elevating means including a pair of spaced arms, a ribbon cassette comprising a pair of spool holders, spaced vibrator arms pivotally secured to said ribbon cassette and being separated to form a gap, ribbon spools pivotally supported in said spool holders having ribbon wound thereon and extending from one spool to the other across the gap formed by said spaced vibrator arms, said ribbon spools having means adapted to receive said spindles, means on said spaced vibrator arms and said pair of spaced arms of said ribbon elevating means for coupling said spaced vibrator arms and said spaced arms of said ribbon elevating means together when said ribbon cartridge is in an open load position, said ribbon cassette thereafter being rotated about said coupling means to engage said spools and spindles, and means to secure said ribbon cassette to said ribbon cartridge whereby said ribbon cassette loaded ribbon cartridge may be pivoted to operative position. 